Abstract
The current article deals with the analysis of animal imagery in the novels by Irwin Shaw, putting forward the Conceptual Blending Theory (CBT) based on G. Fauconnier and M. Turner’s theory of cognition. Incorporation of animal imagery in the novels in question provides a clue into the author’s aforethought symbolism, revealing the writer’s worldview and individual style. The subject matter of the article is the in-depth analysis of animal imagery employed by I. Shaw based on a conceptual blending mechanism and the survey of autointertextuality as a tool aimed to establish cohesive ties within the writing of the author. The topicality is determined by the ongoing tendency of cognitive linguistics to detect conceptual blending and autointertextuality as mechanisms that are interwoven in creative processes engendering new ideas and meanings as well as reflecting the dynamics of the main concepts in the author’s world picture. Figurative usage of animal imagery challenges the reader to decode covert meanings as well as gain insight into characters’ actions, motives, and perspectives. Moreover, Irwin Shaw exploits emotional affiliation with the natural world to evoke emotional empathy in readers.